Southcoast Health’s Baby Café Celebrates 10 years of Community Education with the Legacy of Service Award

As World Breastfeeding Week highlights the importance of building lasting support systems for families, Southcoast Health is proud to celebrate a milestone that reflects more than a decade of care, connection, and community impact.

Southcoast Health’s Baby Café has received the Baby Café USA Legacy of Service Award, a national honor presented to Baby Café locations that have provided at least 10 years of continuous support to breastfeeding families.

While Southcoast Baby Café is celebrating 10 years with Baby Café USA, breastfeeding support has been offered at Southcoast Health for more than 20 years. What began as a breastfeeding support group has grown into a trusted community resource with multiple locations, helping even more families access free lactation support, education and encouragement across the South Coast.

The Southcoast Health Baby Café serves as a welcoming space where new and expectant parents can receive free guidance from trained lactation professionals, connect with other families and find encouragement throughout their feeding journey. What began as a breastfeeding resource has grown into a trusted community network that helps families feel informed, confident and supported.

“This recognition reflects the dedication of our team and the families who continue to make our Baby Café such a valuable community resource,” said Michelle Murray, Lead Lactation Consultant at Southcoast Health. “We know that successful breastfeeding support does not happen em a single visit. It requires ongoing access to education, encouragement and expert guidance, and we are proud to provide that support year after year.”

The award comes as this year’s World Breastfeeding Week theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” emphasizes the importance of strengthening programs and systems that support families long after they leave the hospital. Through free, evidence-based lactation support and meaningful community connections, Southcoast Baby Café continues to help families across the South Coast navigate the challenges and successes of breastfeeding with confidence.

The impact of Southcoast Baby Café is reflected in feedback from the families it serves. One participant shared that they received “amazing support from the consultants running the group and from other moms. I feel very fortunate to have this program available.” Another described the program simply as “an amazing resource.”

As Southcoast Health celebrates this recognition, the organization remains committed to ensuring every family has access to the education, resources and support needed during the earliest stages of parenthood. The Legacy of Service Award serves as both a recognition of the past decade and a testament to the lasting impact community-based breastfeeding support can have on families and the health of the communities they call home.

To learn more about maternity services and breastfeeding resources at Southcoast Health, please visit www.southcoast.org/services/maternity-services/.